The One Where They Fall in Love by Cristina Wolf

                                                       

The One Where They Fall in Love

You never know when love may come knocking…

Hopeless romantic and romance editor Elle Thompson lives for happy endings—but real-life love? Not so much. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t thrilled when her best friend gets engaged. Really. Not jealous at all.

Meanwhile, Oliver Cole likes things a certain way. Schedules and routines and order. So when his move back to New York is disrupted with the unwelcome addition of Thor—the dog his sister adopted for him—he’s less than enthused. Even less enthused than Oliver? His neighbour, Elle.

When Elle can’t bear to hear Thor howling all night, the two agree to strike a deal: she’ll dog-sit while he’s on shift.

But what starts as a reluctant arrangement soon turns into late-night chats, sizzling chemistry, and two lonely hearts daring to let each other in.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTY5wYy

This was such an uplifting and entertaining rom-com. Elle is wonderfully unhinged in the sweetest way, and her energetic charm pairs beautifully with Oliver’s tightly‑wound personality. Their meet‑cute, complete with Thor’s sad whining and crying was an absolute highlight and instantly hooked me.

The dynamic between Elle and Oliver is irresistible. Their banter feels effortless, their day‑trip adventures are full of warmth and humour, and the gradual shift from friendship to something deeper is handled nicely. Oliver’s internal struggle and slow realisation of his feelings were especially satisfying to watch unfold.

With a lovable dog, supportive friends, and two leads who complement each other perfectly, this is a delightful, funny romance that left me smiling.

Author Bio – Cristina Wolf wrote her first book in the third grade. It was an adventure book about her beagle, Abby, complete with hand-drawn illustrations and top-notch handwriting. Needless to say, writing and reading has been a passion of Cristina’s from the beginning. After graduating from Marist College with a double major in Business and English, Cristina pursued a career in the publishing industry while earning her Master of Science in Publishing from New York University. Cristina has experience working at literary agencies and as an editorial assistant at a publishing house. Finding life in NYC a bit different than she expected, Cristina returned to her native New Jersey where she earned her Master in Teaching from Monmouth University. She now shares her love of books with her students as a middle school English teacher.

Social Media Links – https://www.cristinawolf.com/books https://www.instagram.com/cwolfbooks/

The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop by Jill Steeples

 

The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop: An uplifting, festive romance from Jill Steeples for 2026

A BRAND NEW joyful, festive romance from BESTSELLER Jill Steeples. Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Sarah Bennett. ❄️🎄

Isla Stewart has a glittering publishing career in London, but when she’s unexpectedly made redundant, she has the chance to start a brand-new chapter.

Licking her wounds, Isla heads home to the Cotswolds. Keeping her devastating redundancy a secret from her proud parents, she seeks refuge at Finch’s, the enchanting bookshop she worked in as a teenager. With the owners struggling with their health, Isla steps in to manage the shop hoping to convince them that the business has a future.

Isla likes nothing more than chatting to people about books, but her safe haven is soon disturbed when she comes face-to-face with her first love, Charlie Brace, made worse by the arrival of Guy Madley, the incredibly handsome property consultant who has advice for owners Jon and Miriam.

As Christmas approaches, Isla has decisions to make. Does her future lie in London or can a whole heap of books and a sprinkling of festive magic offer a life that she could never even have dreamed of?

Grab a hot chocolate and settle down for the perfect festive read. Essential reading for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Sarah Bennett.

This is such an uplifting and cosy read, filled with the kind of characters you genuinely want to be friends with. Jill Steeples always creates wonderful communities, and this book is no exception.

Guy is an affable, adorable romantic interest from the very beginning. He’s clearly smitten with Isla, even if she’s completely oblivious, and their interactions are so sweet and endearing. I loved watching their connection grow.

Isla has a few personal and professional challenges to work through, but the answer was right in front of her all along. It’s lovely to see her gradually come to that realisation, and I was rooting for her and for the final outcome the whole way through.

A very enjoyable read, full of warmth, charm, and gentle romance. Another delightful story from Jill Steeples.

Pride Comes Before a Fall (Miss Prentice's Protegees #3) by Virginia Heath

 

Description

In the third instalment of this witty Regency romcom series, a headstrong chaperone is torn between following her rigid principles or her heart

Despite his many responsibilities, there is nothing Leopold Sloane, the 11th Duke of Debden, takes more seriously than the safety of those he loves. When one of his sisters is injured at a protest rally, he drags his family to Bath for the summer to keep his reckless and rebellious siblings out of harm’s way. The only flaw in his plan is his overwhelming but inexplicable attraction to the new chaperone he has hired to watch out for them. An outspoken conundrum of a woman who soon causes him more trouble than both his sisters combined...but who calls to his soul regardless.

From the moment Portia Kendall read her first revolutionary pamphlet beneath her bedcovers at Miss Prentice’s School for Girls, she realised that her true calling was to make the world a fairer place for the masses downtrodden by the aristocracy. A calling that led her to Equitas, a radical newspaper that champions reform. But as Portia discovers, writing doesn’t pay the bills. To make a living, she must push aside her principles and serve the very people she criticises weekly in her column. A temporary position as a chaperone in the home of a pompous duke seems like the perfect way to earn enough to follow her heart. Unfortunately, the duke who hires her seems to be more dashing and noble than pompous and soon begins to call to her heart too—as much as she tries to deny it. But dare she risk her principles for love or will her pride always come before a fall?

This was such an enjoyable read and exactly the kind of historical romance that keeps me turning the pages. The first half is packed with humour thanks to Portia’s brilliant interview scene and her unapologetic disdain for the aristocracy, Leo very much included. Their banter is sharp, their reluctant attraction is great fun, and I loved every moment of their back‑and‑forth.

The story does slow a little in the middle when the focus shifts to Portia’s involvement with Equitas and the legal trouble surrounding her political writings. It’s interesting, but it changes the pace. Leo’s attempt to save her from deportation adds emotional tension, though their relationship suffers from insecurity and their inability to communicate honestly.

Thankfully, the resolution is worth the wait. It leads to a standout, genuinely hilarious scene in the House of Lords that had me grinning. Overall, this is a witty, charming story with memorable characters and plenty of heart.